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The three day UNI Americas Regional Conference concluded with the affiliates energised and determined to use the UNI network to add to their successes in the fight to organise and build strong unions. The conference provided increased momentum and amongst the UNI America’s affiliates to deliver on the Breaking Through strategy for workers’ rights and union growth. All the affiliates from countries as diverse as Canada, Brazil and the Caribbean agreed that UNI in the Americas spoke with one voice on their commitment to the Breaking Through strategy. They acknowledged the challenges in locking horns with powerful multinationals but said the momentum was now on the union side in the Americas and agreed to use the impact of UNI to win more victories in the region. The need to fight for equality and respect for women was an underlying theme throughout the meeting as was the need to provide more secure jobs the millions of unemployed youth in the Americas and Europe.



UNI America’s Regional Secretary Adriana Rosenzvaig who was elected unanimously for a further four year mandate, said, “Breaking Through is not a slogan it is a way of life. Every union leader gathered here today from Canada in the north through Mexico down to Chile in the south is part of a united movement with one simple goal: to win for workers. That’s what we are doing and will continue to do. When we leave the conference today we will beat the drum for workers’ rights even louder than ever before. We will work tirelessly in the next four years to make the dream of a united; more just Americas with strong unions come true.



Ruben Cortina was also unanimously elected for another four year term along with the new UNI Americas Regional Executive.



He said “The UNI network is stronger in the Americas than ever before. We must use this moment in history where we have progressive governments in place in many countries in the region to move forward. We have achieved a lot but much work needs to be done before the next regional conference in 2016. 15% of the Americas are living in poverty and we must work to change this. Inclusion is the way forward and we must fight for equality for women and youth and all the other vulnerable parts of society.

In Latin America we have grown unions by a 100% in the last ten years, we must continue that trend but not forgot about our colleagues in the US and Canada. There the middle class is being squeezed by the corporations. We must show more than solidarity, we must join them in their struggle as we have with the US Walmart workers. We must be patient and strategic and keep the momentum. I am committed to this great organisation that is UNI.”



UNI Global Union Deputy General Secretary, Christy Hoffman agreed that now was the time to build on recent victories, “In many Latin American countries, including Brazil, Argentina and here in Uruguay, you have turned the corner on fear but you must grow your unions while these progressive governments are in place. We will win – we will climb the mountain.”



On Mexico, Duncan Brown from the Canadian union CEP said that UNI must redouble its efforts to break down the protection unions there which gave all power to the employers. He said, “90% of unions in Mexico are protection unions. They leave employees exposed while protecting the employers. This is a cancer that needs to be destroyed to free the Mexican workers and to stop it spreading like a cancer throughout the Americas.



US affiliate, SEIU highlighted how global solidarity through UNI had been a tipping point in the Houston cleaners’ strike to achieve a just pay settlement.



Rocio Saenz, from the SEIU said, “When we come together, we unite, everything is possible. Today the employers and companies are global, so we need to join together globally. We want a better life and a better future for all workers. We can make a change. We want to make a change so that every worker is respected, valued and can make a decent living. We have the numbers, the strength and the power to break through.”



UNI had mobilised support across the Americas and Europe and pressurised the companies to negotiate a fair agreement. The Houston cleaners stood up and won. In the same way UNI is backing Walmart workers to win their battle for decent pay and dignity in the workplace through the UNI Walmart Global Union Alliance. The fight goes on throughout all the sectors with a number of multinationals targeted to either deliver on global agreements already in place or sign up to one to give workers a voice including T-Mobile USA, Atento, and DHL.

UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jennings concluded, “We have a winning team in place and we will go out and seize victory for every single worker in the UNI family network. From the global to the local level we’ll be there for them. We’ll bring the injustice of the US vulture funds picking off an Argentine ship to the attention of the G20; and fight to get a single worker reinstated. No battle is too big or too small. Together we’ll break through and win.”



UNI thanked the city of Montevideo and Uruguay for being such a warm and generous host for this the 3^rd UNI Americas Regional Conference. The conference ended in a celebration in the city's main square accompanied by drum bands from across Latin America.